DEPARTURE OF MR COATES

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21449, 15 April 1935, Page 12

DEPARTURE OF MR COATES

Farewell Scenes At Auckland IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS IN LONDON [THE P2SSS Special Sarric*.] AUCKLAND, April 14. Before his departure by the Rangitane on Saturday, to take part in important discussions in London affecting the future of New Zealand * exports to Britain, the Minister for * Finance, the fit. Hon. J. G. Coates. ' received many testimonies of the - goodwill and confidence of Auck--3 land people. Mr Coates reached e Auckland by the Limited express, accompanied by Mrs Coates, the Public Service Com--2 missioner, Mr P. D. N. Verschaffelt, ( and Miss H. D. Montague (personal s secretary). Mr T. A. Duncan and Mr J. Fraser, chairman and secretary " respectively of the New Zealand \ Meat Producers' Board, also iet't by f the Rangitane. The Misses Sheila and - Barbara Coates travelled from Welt lington to see their parents off. 1 The hour between the arrival of 5 the train and the liner's departure g was fully occupied. Mr Coates was \ welcomed at the station by the D Mayor, Mr G. W. Hutchison, and a t' large gathering of leading citizens, - headed by Sir Geurge Wilsun. Some 1 time elapsed before the round «>f * handshaking and good wishes was ■■ completed, and the departing travellers entered their cars for the drive j to the central wharf. j On passing through the wharf bar- j . rier, outside which several persons j ; had gathered, Mr Coates was met by t still more friends and supporters. 1 among whom was. the Minister for t Health. Sir Alexander Young, in ad- j dition to most of those who had j greeted him at the station. After } , more hand-shaking, the whole party i

• numbering more than 100, adjournec ' to one of the sheds. ■ Presents Given • Sir George Wilson, addressing Mi :' Coates, expressed the good wishes > ot' Auckland friends for his siiccest [ in a mission of the greatest importt anee to New Zealand. They were . aware, he said, that Mr Coates hac I : a very strenuous time ahead ot him • but they were confident that he • would carry his task through to v ' satisfactory conclusion. They trustee ! that the voyage would be beneficial : to him. aril provide the rest, which : he greatly needed. As a memcntc • of the regard and esteem of his many Auckland friends. Sir George I handed Mr Coates a gold cigarette ; case, and wished him and Mrs ' Coates God speed and a sate return. Dr. Hilda Northeroft preseid- ! ■ Mrs Coates with a leather dressing • case, remarking that statesmen owed ; much to their womenfolk, and Mrs Coates's care ot' iter husband was . highly valued and appreciated. : j A gift ot" a leather handbag to ; made to Miss Montague by Mr >Y. \ E. Lewisham. in recognition or the ■ help she had given to those who had business with Mr Coates. "I do not know how to thank you tor tills quite unexpected gilt, and particularly for the words in which Sir George very charmingly expressed his opinion, and I hope yours, regarding my humble and inadequate efforts," said Mr Coates. He realised that the mission upon which the Prime Minister and he were engaged was ot' the greatest moment to New Zealand. Meat aid not loom large in the mind-; ot some people, but it was vitally important to New Zealand. Not only meat, but all foodstuffs tor which Britain was almost the Dominion's sole market, wore involved in the coming London discussions. Those responsible should use every effort to achieve what he believed to be a possible agreement upon common lines of action, and a formula that would be fair to all the countries within the British Commonwealth. Kecent Legislation Speaking ot' himself. Mr Coates said he had believed that his duty at present lay in New Zealand, because there was so much to do. In particular, the policy laid djwa '.p. recent legislation had to be implemented in order to benefit those for whose good it had been framed. However, he had yielded to the earnest requests of exporting and other interests that he should jo:a the Prime Minister in England. He had every confidence in the ability of his colleagues to carry on the work of the Government, and ho was now inclined to think that his first opinion about leaving might have been incorrect. Mr Coates ended by paying a tribute to the help which Mrs Coates had given him, and thanking the donors on her behalf and that of Miss Montague for the gifts that had been made to them. Hearty cheers wore given for Mr and Mrs Coates as the party emerged from the shed. A small group of men on the other side of an iron, fence began hooting and "counting out" in rather a half-hearted fashion. Mr Coates immediately walked over to the barrier, and spoke to the men. One or two of them shook hands with him, but the others called out: "Your last trip, Cordon; remember the starving women and children:" "Stay in England and don't come back." Mr Coates was quite unperturbed. '"We will do our best for you. An i revoir." he said, as he turned away | toward the ship.

APPEAL TO K FIFO KM SUPPORTERS AUCKLAND. April 13. The Kt. Hon. J. G. Coates to-dav appealed to all Reform party supporters to adhere to She arrangement t'ox' a continuation ox the Coalition at the coming genera! election as completed between himself and the Prime Minister (the Et. Ron. G. \V. Forbes^. He hoped the supporters oi: both leaders would sink their differences and co-operate in a spirit <•>£ genuine public duty m supporting the candidates selected.